Key takeaways

Hospitality sustainability regulations: what operators need to prepare for

Across the UK, Ireland and Continental Europe, new rules covering packaging, environmental claims, deforestation and purchasing are coming into force over the next 12 months.

For hospitality operators, the impact will be felt across everything from what they buy and how they package it to the claims they make to guests. The good news is that preparing early can help avoid disruption, manage commercial impact, ensure compliance and give teams more time to find practical alternatives.

Here's what's in force, what's imminent and what you need to have in place before the year is out.

EU packaging rules: what hospitality procurement teams need to do

12 August 2026 | EU and Ireland

What it means: New EU rules aim to reduce packaging waste, increase reuse and make packaging recyclable. For hospitality, this includes food and drink packaging, takeaway containers, transport packaging and some guest amenities.

What to do now: Review your highest-volume packaging and speak to suppliers about upcoming changes, the recyclable nature of their existing products, alternative products, costs and availability.

Sources: Regulation (EU) 2025/40 — EUR-Lex (eur-lex.europa.eu)

Green claims rules: how hospitality operators can evidence sustainability claims

27 September 2026 | EU and Ireland

What it means: Environmental claims such as “green”, “eco-friendly” and “sustainable” will need credible evidence. This applies across customer-facing channels, including menus, websites, packaging and marketing.

What to do now: Audit your sustainability claims and make sure every one can be backed by reliable evidence. Agree a clear sign-off process between procurement, sustainability and marketing. When asking suppliers for information, be specific - what precisely is being claimed, what does it cover, and what independent certification supports it?

Sources: Directive (EU) 2024/825 on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (EmpCo) — EUR-Lex (eur-lex.europa.eu); European Commission Q&A guidance on the ECGT Directive (commission.europa.eu)

EU Deforestation Regulation: supply chain due diligence for hospitality

30 December 2026 | Large and medium operators
30 June 2027 | Most smaller operators

What it means: Businesses dealing with products linked to cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soya and wood will need to meet new deforestation and due diligence requirements.

What to do now: Identify affected products in your supply chain and ask suppliers who holds responsibility for compliance and how they are preparing.

Sources: Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, amended by Regulation (EU) 2025/2650 — EUR-Lex (eur-lex.europa.eu); European Commission EUDR overview (environment.ec.europa.eu); European Parliament press release, December 2025 (europarl.europa.eu)

Green Key 2026 procurement criteria for hotels and hospitality

1 October 2026

What it means: Green Key is a leading international sustainability certification for tourism and hospitality businesses, recognising organisations that meet defined environmental and sustainability standards. From 2026, procurement becomes a standalone area within the Green Key criteria, covering general purchasing, food and beverage, and cleaning products.

What to do now: If you hold or are working towards Green Key certification, review your purchasing practices against the new criteria and identify any gaps.

Source: Green Key Criteria and Explanatory Notes 2026–2031 (greenkey.global)

Refill and reuse rules for EU foodservice and hospitality

From 12 February 2027 | EU and Ireland

What it means: Foodservice operators will need to allow customers to bring their own containers for beverages and ready-to-eat meals at no extra charge. From 2028, reusable takeaway packaging will also need to be available.

What to do now: Start considering how refill and reuse could work operationally, including hygiene, storage, staff processes and customer communication.

Source: Regulation (EU) 2025/40, Article 32 — EUR-Lex (eur-lex.europa.eu)

UK Deposit Return Scheme: procurement and operational implications

1 October 2027 | England, Northern Ireland and Scotland

What it means: A deposit scheme for eligible drinks packaging will introduce changes to pricing, stock management, customer communications and the handling of returned containers.

What to do now: If you sell eligible drinks, start speaking to suppliers about what's changing and how your operation may need to adapt with this change. In other countries, some hospitality businesses have been exempt from acting as return points. We are awaiting the final details of the UK scheme to understand exactly what will be required of UK hospitality businesses.

Sources: House of Commons Library research briefing on Deposit Return Schemes (commonslibrary.parliament.uk); Defra joint policy statement on UK DRS, 2024

How sustainability regulations are changing hospitality procurement

These regulations may have different deadlines and requirements, but they share a common theme: sustainability is becoming increasingly embedded in everyday procurement decisions.

For hospitality operators, preparing early can help avoid disruption, identify better-value alternatives and turn compliance into a more strategic approach to purchasing.

Navigating these regulations is as much a procurement challenge as a sustainability one - and it's one we are already helping operators across the UK, Ireland and Continental Europe to manage.

How Avendra International supports sustainable hospitality procurement

We help operators navigate these changes through sustainable procurement support, supplier engagement, food waste monitoring, CO2e menu tracking and single-use plastic reduction solutions.

Want to understand what these changes mean for your operation? Speak to your Avendra International account manager or email hello_UK@avendra.com

FAQs

What sustainability regulations should hospitality procurement teams prepare for in 2026 and 2027?

Hospitality operators need to prepare for several changes affecting procurement and operations, including EU packaging rules, requirements around environmental claims, the EU Deforestation Regulation, Green Key procurement criteria, refill and reuse requirements, and the UK Deposit Return Scheme. The applicable requirements and deadlines vary by country and organisation.

How will the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation affect hospitality procurement?

The new EU rules cover areas including food and drink packaging, takeaway containers, transport packaging and some guest amenities. Hospitality procurement teams should review high-volume packaging and engage suppliers about recyclability, alternative products, costs and availability.

What does the EU Deforestation Regulation mean for hospitality supply chains?

The regulation introduces due diligence requirements for products linked to commodities including cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soya and wood. Hospitality businesses should identify potentially affected products and establish how suppliers are preparing for compliance and where responsibility sits within the supply chain.

How can hospitality businesses prepare for stricter sustainability and green claims rules?

Businesses should review environmental claims used across menus, websites, packaging and marketing and ensure they can be supported by credible evidence. Procurement, sustainability and marketing teams should also establish clear processes for obtaining supplier evidence and approving claims.

How can Avendra International support hospitality operators with sustainable procurement?

Avendra International helps hospitality operators make more responsible procurement decisions through sustainable procurement support, supplier engagement, food waste monitoring, CO2e menu tracking and solutions to reduce single-use plastics. This can help operators respond to changing sustainability requirements while reducing environmental impact across their procurement and foodservice operations.